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Six missing in 'mishap' between two US marine aircraft off Japan, official says Six missing after two US military aircraft crash off Japan coast
(about 2 hours later)
Two US Marine Corps aircraft crashed during a refuelling operation off the coast of Japan, according to a US defence official. Six US marines are missing after two aircraft crashed during a refuelling operation off the coast of Japan, according to a US defence official.
The planes involved were an F-18 fighter and a C-130 tanker, the official said. The planes, which are thought to have been involved in a midair collision, were an FA-18 Hornet jet fighter and a KC-130 Hercules refuelling aircraft, the official said. Japan’s defence ministry said its maritime self-defence forces had rescued one of the seven people aboard the two aircraft.
In a statement, the Marine Corps said the planes had taken off from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in southern Japan. In a statement, the Marine Corps said the planes had taken off from an air station at Iwakuni, west of Hiroshima, at around 2am local time, and were conducting regularly scheduled training exercises when a “mishap” occurred about 200 miles off the Japanese coast.
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Search and rescue operations were underway following a “mishap.” Japanese search and rescue aircraft have reportedly taken the lead in the rescue mission. “We are thankful for the Japan maritime self-defence force’s efforts as they immediately responded in the search and rescue operation,” the Marine Corps said.
The planes “were conducting regularly scheduled training when the mishap occurred,” the statement said. US media initially reported five crew were on the C-130 and two on the FA-18.
US media initially reported five crew were on the C-130 and two on the F-18. A spokesman for Japan’s self-defence forces said that one of the airmen had been rescued, but the immediate fate of the remaining crew members was unclear.
A spokesman for Japan’s Self-Defence Forces said that one of the airmen had been rescued but the immediate fate of the remaining crew members was unclear. The crew member was being assessed by doctors at the Iwakuni base, a Marines statement said, adding that “the search and rescue operations continue for the remaining six.”
The crew member was being assessed by doctors, a Marines statement said, adding that “the search and rescue operations continue for the remaining six.”
A Japanese official said Japan had scrambled four aircraft and three ships in the search.A Japanese official said Japan had scrambled four aircraft and three ships in the search.
“We are thankful for the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force’s efforts as they immediately responded in the search and rescue operation,” the Marines said. About 50,000 US military personnel are based in Japan, and accidents are not uncommon.
The US military has about 50,000 troops stationed in Japan. Last month, a US navy fighter jet from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan crashed into the sea off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa. Its two crew members were rescued alive.
In November, a US navy fighter jet crashed into the sea off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa and its two crew members were rescued alive. In October, a MH-60 Seahawk crashed on the Ronald Reagan’s flight deck shortly after takeoff in the Philippine Sea, injuring a dozen sailors.
The US military has also experienced difficulties with its Osprey helicopters, with several emergency landings, a deadly crash and a piece of the chopper falling on the grounds of a Japanese school.The US military has also experienced difficulties with its Osprey helicopters, with several emergency landings, a deadly crash and a piece of the chopper falling on the grounds of a Japanese school.
Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this reportReuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report
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